Top 5 Eco-Friendly Baby-Proofing Tips for Your Home

What is eco-friendly and why is it so important for babies? Eco-friendly products are products made out of materials that don’t harm the atmosphere or deplete the earth’s precious resources. Eco-friendly products are also made so as not to hurt the atmosphere when the items are discarded – most of the time they can be recycled. Eco-friendly products are important for babies because if something is safe for the earth, it is probably safe for a child too. When it comes time to baby-proof your home, you might want to think about using eco-friendly baby-proofing materials. Here are the top five eco-friendly baby-proofing tips for your home.

Don’t use harmful plastics. Many plastics are made out of materials and chemicals that can be poisonous for children. One of the most common chemicals is BPA, which is derived from petroleum. These chemicals can cause minor side effects, like lightheadedness and confusion, but over time they can also cause some pretty serious issues, like behavioral and cognitive problems. So, make sure that you look to see what kind of material your baby-proofing product is made out of before you buy it. If it is plastic, you might want to keep looking.

Only purchase what you need. Less is more when it comes to baby proofing your home. There are not that many steps to complete when it comes to baby proofing your home, so why buy more products that will only end up in a landfill when you child gets a little older? Also, the more products you purchase, the more materials you will have to throw away. Sure, cardboard and other materials can be recycled, but all that plastic cannot be. Plus, why increase your impact if you have the power not to?

Don’t use baby gates that are made out of paints that contain lead or VOCs. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are harmful materials that can be drudged out of the paint by placing your mouth directly on it, or by coming in contact with oxygen. VOCs can be incredibly harmful to children. Also, lead can be harmful too. So, make sure that you choose materials, like reclaimed, untreated wood or even bamboo. Also, avoid most gates made out of metal with a rubber outer layer.

Use organic materials. When you are looking for items, like a play yard, you want to make sure the fabric is made out of cotton or some kind of recycled, organic material. You might wonder what the point is, but it’s the principle that matters. The more people choose materials that are made out of eco-friendly materials, the more companies will produce them, which will take a huge strain off the environment.

Look for 100% recycled products. Things like outlet protectors and table corner shields are often made out of materials that can harm the environment, but there are a few companies that make their items out of 100% recycled products. With enough research, you will be able to find these items. They might be a little more expensive, but worth every penny.